Frozen custard machine



Sept. 2, 1952 B. H. WOODRUFF FROZEN cUsTARD MACHINE Filed July 29, 19492 sHEE'rsf-SHEET 1 IN V EN TOR. Z000 BY MMX B. H. WOODRUFF FROZENcusTARn MACHINE sgpt. 2, 1952 Z'SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed July 29, 1949INVENTOR. Uma/ruff en/ff.

y Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITEDI STATES PATENT OFFICE Ben H. Woodruff,Chicago, Ill.

Application July 29, 1949, S'erial No.-107,520

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to machines for making frozen custard,soft ice-cream, or other frozen products, and more particularly tosuch'machines which operate automatically and continuously at ak ratedepending upon the 'amount of frozen mixture which is withdrawntherefrom. f

Machines for the making and vending of frozen custard, soft ice-cream,and other frozen products are vin vgeneral use in relatively largenumbers.` In the past, these machineshave been o-f two types, one-shotor batch machines in which a given amount of mixture is frozen and thenall used up, or continuous machines in which a continuous stream ofcustard is frozen. `The one-shot machines must be refilled after thefrozen mixture is all used up, thereby causing a vdelay due to the timerequired for the mixture to freeze. This requires the use of at leasttwo machines to keep each type of frozen product always available. Thecontinuous machines are large and expensive and in addition are notflexible enough to take care of situations where smalls quantities offrozen mixtures are required. As storage of most types of frozenmixtures results in deterioration of the quality thereof, this isobviously undesirable. y

f In my copending application, Serial No. 52,933, filed October 5, 1948,subject: Frozen Custard Machine, now Patent No. 2,523,853 there Vis dis-"closed a-simple machine which is in general like the machines of thebatch type in which a continuous supplyrofa frozen product can beprovided. In this machine, the rate at which the custard is made isautomatically adjusted to corimproved means are provided for storing andconf ditioning the mixture to be frozen prior to introduction thereofinto the freezing chamber of the machine. In the following specificationthe term zffrozen custard is intended to include soft icecream or votherfrozen products.

It is' an object of the present invention, therefore,A to provide animproved machine for freezing fcustard, or otherv frozen vproducts whichoperates yautomatically 'and continuously to provide the product at anydesired rate.

A further object of this invention is to provide a frozen custardmachine having a refrigerated storage .chamber for .maintaining a'relatively large supply cf mixture'inproper condition before itisfrozen.

(Cl. (i2-114) I having a storage chamber and a freezing chamber both ofwhich are cooled by a common refrigeratiing system, with the freezingchamber positioned below the storage chamber so that mixture ,can beeasily provided from the storage chamber to the freezing chamber.

A further feature of this invention is the pro-y vision of arefrigerated storage chamber a freezing machine including an agitatorwhichcan be operated to mix` the various ingredients to provide thedesired freezing mixture. This operation has been generally termedreconstitution" of the mix.

A still further feature of this inventionis the provision of a frozencustard machine having a cabinet for enclosing a freezing chamber and astorage chamber and cover plates for the chambers including provisionsfor withdrawing frozen mixture from the freezing chamber and at the sametime automatically providing mixture from the storagev chamber to ber. YFurther objects, features and advantageswill be apparent from aconsideration of the following -description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which: j.

Fig. l illustrates a frozen custard machine in accordance with theinvention with-the storage and freezing chambers shown incross-section;v

Fig. 2 is a front View of the freezing machine illustrating the coversfor the storage and freezing chambers; and 1 Fig. 3 is a cross-sectionalview showing the detailed constructionof the cover members and the gateand valve mechanism included therewith. l Y

In practicing the invention there lis provided a machine for makingfrozen custard,` soft Vice-v cream, or other frozen products,including-a freezing chamber or cylinder which is cooledby a refrigerantpassed through coils extending about the chamber. Mixing means are. alsoprovided in the chamber, being operated b-yra small motor. `A storagechamber or cylinder is pro. vided above the freezing chamber and-coilsfor refrigerant are also provided about this chamber.

cool temperature but do notmcoolthegmixtpre the refrigerating cham- 'Itliejstorage chamber.

`to therefrigerating system through the "motor-24 through belt 25.

enough for it to freeze. An agitator may be provided in the storagechamber for reconstituting the mix maintained therein. Cover plates areprovided for the freezing and storage chambers with the cover platesbeing constructed to lit together to provide a complete enclosure. Avalve is provided in the cover plate for the storage chamber forcontrolling the flow of mixture therefrom .into the cover platey for thefreezing chamber and from this into the freezing chamber itself. A gateis provided on the enclosure for the freezing chamber to permitwithdrawal of the frozen mixture therefrom. A mechanical linkage isprovided between the gate andthe valve for automatically supplyingmixture fromthe storage chamber to the freezing chamber as the frozenmixture is withdrawn from thefreezinggchamber..

Referring now to the drawings, in Fig. 1 there is illustrated a frozencustard machine in accordance vwith the invention. The frozen custardmachine HI includes;- Vrefrigerating` means II., a

Yfreezing chamber I2, and a storage .chamber I3.

Thef-reezing chamber I2 and storage chamber I-3 may be of generallysimilar construction be- .ing cylindrical chambers having refrigeratingcoils positioned thereabou-t. -The coils I4 about the freezing chamberare. connected to the re- "friger'ating system I I `by the supply line.I 5. The vvije'fri .-g erant after `passing about the coils Hl continuesthrough the line I6 to the coils I1 about lRefrigerantr is then rereturnline I8. Insulating means as indicated at 'Hmaybe provided about theassembly includ- "-ingtheehamber and refrigerating coils to insutoprovide the proper texture thereof. The beater 'structure is connectedto a pulley 23 driven by Individual controls may- -bel provided for thelmotor 2liv for operating v"the-beater as desired. The storage chamberi3 L "mayalso include a beater or agitator 26 which 'is-connected topulley 2T driven by motor 28 'through the belt 29.

The agitator 26 permits stirring of the mixture in the storage chamberI3 'as will be-more fully explained.

f -Afcover'member 30 is provided for the open end of the cylindrical-freezing'l chamber I2 and similarly a cover chamber 3I 4is provided forthe open end ofthe cylindrical storage chamber I3. These covermembersare shown more clearly in Figs.

2 yand 3. The cover members 3l has a removable lidi-2 which may beopened to permit the placing'of the mixture to be frozen into thecavity33 in the cover member 3 I, from whereit. flows into fthe storagechamber I3. This may be a preparedIni-xture'ready for freezing or may bethe vingredients from which the mixture is to be made. If theingredients when placed in the Ystoragechamber-are not mixed, theagitator 26 y'may' be operated to reconstitute or prepare the forfreezing. Also after the mixture has "beenheld inthe storagechamber-fora relatively `long-:time `itmay be desired to stir the mixturetobesure.thatzthe ingredients areproperly comb'ined.

- The cover-member 3i ts on topof the cover member 30 to provide for theflow of mixture from the storage chamber I3 to the freezing chamber l2.A valve structure 38 is provided in the opening 36 to control the flowof the mixture. The valve includes a cylindrical shell 39 having anintegral top portion 40 and a removable bottom plate 4I A top plate 42is positioned on top of the shell with the Various members being securedtogether by bolt ,43 threaded into the bottom plate 4I. The bolt is.threaded into a nut 44 positioned above the top member 42 by thecylindrical spacer 41, the purpose of which will be described more indetail. The bottom surface 55. of the top plate 42 and the top surface46 Asurrounding the opening 36 are ground to provide a very tight nt sothat the mixture cannot leak through the valve when the valve is closed.

The operation of the valve assembly 38 is described in detail in mycopending application referred to.- above. `The operation of this valve.generally is apparent'from. acomparisonv of Figs.

l ando.. In Fig. l the valve. is open so that the mixture. from thecavity 33. flows in through the The amount of mixture which can flowinto. the valve .depends upon the. cubical. space Within the shell whichmay be. reduced by the use of' an insert, 48 within the shell. Whenthe.` valve is, allowed-t0 drop; to the-position;shown in Fig. themixture therein can flow into the cavity 3:1. as illustrated bythearrows in Fig., 3.

The cover memberhasfanopening 50. Atherein through which -thefrozenmixture may be with.- drawn Vfrom the freezing chamber 12;.. Theopening, 1.5.9 isclosednby' gate 5I having a handle 52 to Abe engagedbvY the operator for opening Vthe gate. The gate. 5I `irmludes an upperprojection 53 having an. overhanginelip 54 which engages a. roller.5S-to operates. plunger 56., The plunger 56. isaslidably'pitioned, ina. cylindrical tube 51 which .may .be formed integrally with thecontainer 3|) or beseollled thereto in any suit.-

.able l'xlarlllr.V Arspring .58 'bears against a projecting rim 59 onthe .plunger 5.6 and a rim 60 on the tube 51 to tend to boldthe plunger536 man upward position., The top surface 6I of the 'plunger bearslyagainst the bottom surface of' the bottom plate 4I, of the valveassemblyso thatwhen, the. gate 50 .is opened. by the handle 5.2- theplunger will causethe vvalve to move to the upper position and be filledwith the mixture. -Then when `the gate Vis closed the projection V54 onthe gate bear-ing Aagainst the roller 5.5 on the plunger 56 `will cause.the plunger to be pulled down and allow the valve to drop so that themixture .therein will be discharged into the cavity 31 and may owfrom-the cavity-to the. freezing chamber I 2,.

AS the Valveassembly 33 tsrquite closely within thecylindrical opening3,6inthe cover member 30. air Within the valve. Structure will tend t0prevent the flow of mixture therein when the valve is in theupperposition. This .condition .has been eliminated by the use ofthecylindrical spacer 41 surrounding the rod 43. It will be seen thatclearance is provided about the rod so that air may escapev from theinside of the valve through the passage .between the spacer and the lrodand escape-through :the `slot 49 in the nut .44. The spacer extendsabove the level of the mixture in thecavity: 33 so that. thefslot 49 isnot filled withrthemixture `and the escape offair thereby impeded. A ,l

example'g-the Ibaiile isus'ed when making lfrozen custard but is notnecessary when makingice# cream. The` bale Y'IlV is 'held in position byiingers'fiZ extending overfthe edge of the cover member-' 30JTA `clip 73supportedon the tube 51 also bearSagainSt vthe baie 'Hto hold itinplace. v 1 l The cover member ,30 is held in position to close thechamber I-2- by` bar' -secured tothe cover 'I3 for supporting theforward lend of the beater f or agitator 2E.y The member 65 is'lieldinvposi- "The freezer structure disclosed provides a freez-'ing'ma'chine which` maybe operated continuously andautomatically'and-which provides a supply 'of Va frozen product at 1 anydesired rate. The storage chamber provides a relatively large capacityso that it will not benecessary to'reiill the freezer or make up a newmix at frequent intervals.A No extra facilities vare requiredfor cooliing the storage chamber as the refrigerating system required foryfreezing themixture can provide the small additional amount of coolingrelui'red' for maintaining the storage -chamber at the-desired lowtemperature. The provision of an agitator in the storage chamber makesit possible to keep the mix properly stored or to reconstitutesor makeupia new mix if desired.`Yv

' The frozen custardmachine is easily operated by relatively unskilledlpersons. 'Cleaning of the machine is easily accomplished as the covermembers are easily removable and are vof such configur-ations thatsterilization thereof is simplified. i

VThe entire valve assembly can be lifted out by -using the spacer 541 asa handle so that any mixture `in the storage chamber will drairi'throughthek freezingchamber and may be withdrawn throughthegatel. f

While there have been described certain embodiments of the inventionwhich are illustrative thereof, itis obvious that various changes andmodifications can be made thereinwithout departingv from the intendedscope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

Iclaim: Y' h 1.Inv a frozen custard machine includingscabinet andrefrigeration means :Within the cabinet, a freezing chamber` withinsaidcabinet for freezing a prepared mixture`,'a storage chamber for saidYmixture within said "cabinet and positioned abovesaid freezingchamber,a first coilupositioned about said freezing chamber, a second coilpositioned about said storage chamber, 'dsaidvcoils being connectedto-said refrigeration vmeans so that said chambers are cooled with saidfreezing chamber being cooled to a lower temperture than said storagechamber, removable cover means communicating with each of said chambersand having a passage therein for interconnecting said storage chamberand said freezing chamber, a

6 metering valve in'said passage for controlling-the ow of mixturetherebetween," saidv cover means having a discharge opening therein forremoving frozen mixture fromhsai'd freezing chamber, a gate removablyclosingY said openingY i-'nsaid cover means', and means within saidcover means interconnecting said gate and 'saidmetering valve foroperating said metering valve Itov receive-a predetermined quantity lofmixturev yfrom the storage 'chamber upon opening said gate and fordischarging the predetermined quantity yof vmix-` ture into saidfreezing chamber upon' closing said gate. y Y A Y 2. A -frozencustardmachine including acabinet, a freezing chamber withiny saidcabinet for freezing a prepared mixture, a storage chamber forsaidlmixture within said cabinet and "positioned above said freezing chamber,refrigeration means having a portion thereof Vvabout said freezingchamber and a smaller portion thereof about said storage chamber forcooling the same with said freezing chamberbeing cooled Vto a lowertemperature than said storage chamber, means forming a-passageconnecting said storage-chamber and said freezing chamber, a meteringvalve in said Apassage for transferring a xed quantity of said mixturefrom said storage chamberv to said freezing chamber each time said valveis operated, said freezing chamber having a discharge opening therein, agate'removably closing said opening in saidfreezing chamber, and -meansinterconnecting said gate and said' metering valve for operating saidmetering valvet ireceive a predetermined quantity of mixture-from saidstorage chamber upon opening said gate and for discharging thepredetermined quantity of mixture into said freezing chamberupon'fclos'- ing said gate. i y I' 3. Al frozen custard machineincluding a` freeziing chamber for freezing a-prepared l'nixture', astorage chamber for said mixture positioned above saidfreezing chamber,refrigeration means having a portion thereof about said freezing chamberand a smaller portion thereof about said storage chamber for coolingvthe same, with said freezing chamber-being cooledto alower temperaturethan said storage chamber, removable cover means communicatingwith'eachl of said chambers and having a passage therein for connectingsaid storage chamber and said freezing chamber, a metering valve in saidpassage for transferring a fixed quantity of said mixture from saidstorage chamber to said freezing chamber each time said valveis'operated, said freezing chamber having a discharge openingthereimagate removably closing said opening in said freezing chamber, and' meansinterconnecting said gate and said' metering valve for operating saidmetering valve to receive a=predetermined quantity of mixture fromsaidstoragech'amber vupon opening said gate and for `discharging''thepredetermined quantity yof mixture into said freezing chamber uponclosing said gate.

4. A frozen custard machine comprising a'cab'- inet, a rst cylindricalchamber in said cabinet for freezing a prepared mixture, a secondcylindrical chamber in said cabi-netpositioned above said first chamberfor storing said mixture; means for cooling said first and' secondvchambersl'a first readily removable cover v'memberY for said @firstchamber having a cavity therein for' receiving mixture to be admitted tosaid first chamber, said cover member having a discharge opening thereinfor withdrawing frozen mixture therefrom, a gate for closing saidopening, a second readilyqremovable covermember-.for said .secondchamber having .a .cavity therein .for receiving mixture-to be admittedtov said second chamber, said second .cover member having :an openingcommunicating-with .said cavity in said rst cover member .toprovideapassage for mixture from saidvsecond chamber into said rst ,chambenametering valve;in said .opening Vin said second covermember forcontrolling vthe flow `of mixture therethrough, `said valve,transferring a .fixed quantity ofsaidlmixture from. saidsecondchamber-to saidfirst. chamber each time said valveis operated, andmeans interconnecting saidgate andssaid metering valvefor operating saidmetering valve to. receive a predetermined quantity of mixture. from.said second .chamber Vupon .opening `said gate and vfor `dischargingthe predetermned Aquantity of mixture into .said rst chamberupon.closingsaid-gate.

.5. .A frozen custard machine comprising a cabinet, a .first cylindricalchamber in said cabinet for freezing'a prepared mixturaa secondcylindrical chamber in-said cabinet positionedabove said .first chamberforstoring said mixturarefrigerationmeans for coolingsaid rst .andsecond chambers, agitator meansin saidrst .and second Vchambersforstirring the mixture `therein,.individual motor means for driving Saidagitator means, a .first readily -removable cover member for said rstchamber having a cavity .thereinfor receivingmixture to be admitted tosaidrrst chamber,.said cover member having a discharge opening .thereinvfor withdrawing frozen mixture therefrom, a gate for closing saidopening, a second readily removable cover member .for said .secondchamber .having a cavity therein for receiving mixture to be admitted tosaid second chamber, said second cover member having an openingcommunicating withsaid cavity in said rst cover member to provide apassage for mix- Vturexfrom said second chamber into said rst chambenametering valve in said opening insaid second cover member forcontrolling the .iiow of mixture therethrough, and mechanical meanssupported on said rst cover member interconnecting said gate and saidmetering valve for operating said metering valve to receive a pre-.determined quantity of mixture from said second chamberruponopening-said gate and for discharging'vthe predetermined quantity ofmixture Ainto said .iirst chamber Vupon closing said gate.

6. A frozen `custard machine comprising a cabinet, iirst and secondcylindrical chambers in said cabinet With the axes thereof positioned-horizontally and said second cylindrical chamber being positioned abovesaid rstcylindrical chamber, said chambers having open ends at avertical plane lwhich coincides with one wall of said cabinet, means forcooling said chambers -withsaid rst chamber VbeingV cooled to a tem-4peraturefor.freezing a mixture and said second chamberbeing cooled to atemperature for .storing said mixture, a Vfirst readily removable coverImember for said first chamber having a cavity therein for receivingmixture to be admitted .to said rst chamber, said cover member having adischarge opening therein for withdrawing frozenmixture therefrom, agate for closing said opening, a second readily removable cover memaberVfor said second chamber having a` cavity vtherein for receiving mixtureto be admitted to said-.second chamber, 'said second cover member havingan opening :communicating with .said cavity .in .said-first cover memberto 3 provide :a passage for mixturefrom said second chamber into:saidrst chamber, -a metering valve in said openingin said second coverVmemberfor controlling the ow .of mixture therethrough, .and meansAinterconnecting said gate andgsaid metering valvegfor operating .saidmetering valve to receive a predetermined .quantity of mixture from saidsecond chamberuponopening saidgate and for discharging theVApredetermined quantities of mixture into said first chamberuponrclosing said gate.

`7. .Afrozen 'custard .machine including .a-.freezing. chamber .for.freezing a prepared mixture :a storage .chamber for said vmixturepositioned above said freezing chamber, .means forming -.a passageconnecting. said storage chamber and saidfreezing chamber, a valve finsaid passage having a-cavity therein for receiving saidmixturefrom-saidstorage chamber and transferring the 'same to said'freezing chamber :each time said valve .isoperatedsaid vvalve includinga portion extending above the level of the mixtureinsaid storage chamberhaving an air passage .therein extending from saidzcavity .in said valvetothe air above'said mixture, raggate for said freezing chamber fordrawing off the frozen mixture therefrom, and means connecting said-gateand said valve for automatically .operating said valve to transferSaidmiXtuIe-.fmmsaid storage .chamber .to said freezingchamberto keepsaid I.freezing .chamber lled.

8. A frozen .custard machine including `ta freezd ing chamber forfreezing apreparedimixturaa storage chamber for -said .mixturepositioned above said .freezing chamber, cover .means .for said chambershaving a passage therein for yinterconnecting said storage chamber and.said freezing chamber, a metering valve-in saidpassage having a cavitytherein forreceiving. a xed quantity of ,said mixture from said storagechamber andtransferring the. same tosaidfreezing chambereach .timesaidvalve isoperated, an insert in said cavity .for reducing the volumethereof, said Afreezing chamber having a dis'- charge opening thereinVfor removing the Lfrozen mixture therefrom, a gateremovably closingsaid discharge opening in :said freezing chamber, and meansinterconnectingsaid .gate and saidmetering'valve for operating saidmetering valve to yreceive a predetermined quantity of vmixture-from thestorage chamber .upon opening said gate Aand for discharging thepredetermined quantity of mixture into said-freezing chamber upon.closing offsaid gate.

' BEN WOODRUFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references lare of recordinvthe ille of'this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Wortmann May 7, 1935

